Cold and Flu Prevention & Treatment

How to Prevent Colds and Flu

Keep Yourself Healthy

Fight off those nasty change-of-season viruses with our natural prevention tips. Find out how to make over your medicine cabinet, brew herbal teas, and build up your resistance, and learn what to do when you're feeling under the weather.

Lather Up

While some contact with germs is a good thing -- it strengthens your immune system -- washing your hands is crucial for preventing illness; it's harder to catch a cold from kissing a sick person than it is from shaking his hand and then rubbing your eyes or nose. Antibacterial soap and piping-hot water aren't necessary; just apply soap to wet hands and rub vigorously for 15 seconds. (It's the scrubbing that matters.)

Sleep In

Research shows that sleep-deprived people produce fewer virus-fighting cells. And it's normal to sleep a bit more in winter; before we had electricity, people went to bed earlier and slept longer as the days got shorter. As often as possible this season, treat your immune system to an early bedtime.

Move for 30 Minutes Daily

Getting regular exercise helps your body avoid succumbing to illness in times of stress. But since too much exercise may lower immunity, aim for getting 30 minutes of daily physical activity: Try biking, walking, and even gardening or cleaning. If you're an athlete, take extra care to eat a nourishing diet (including plenty of slow-burning carbohydrates, protein, fruits, and vegetables).

Run Hot and Cold

Your body has its own thermostat that regulates temperature -- that's what goose bumps do. Overheated houses and workplaces can make this internal thermostat "lazy" and less effective. To keep your internal heating system in good working order, take "contrast showers" -- hot water followed by a blast of cold. Try starting with 5 seconds of cold water and working up to 30 seconds.

Take a Breather

When you're run down, you become more susceptible to illness. Stress releases cortisol, which has direct, negative effects on your immune system. Balance your routine with regular doses of meditation, yoga, or slow, deep breathing.

Try Immunity-Boosting Yoga

Yoga's twists, backbends, and inversions stimulate important immunity components -- the adrenal glands and lymphatic system -- helping them perform better. Its deep breathing also helps calm the nervous system, which tells the immune system when to fight off a threat and when it can rest -- signals that can become garbled when you're tense. Try our immunity-boosting poses this season to help stave of the sniffles.

Get a Flu Shot

It's never too late to get vaccinated! Influenza puts people in a weakened state that can trigger a heart attack or stroke in vulnerable individuals. Additionally, studies show a relationship between annual flu shots and reduced risk of cardiovascular events.

Avoid Sharing Utensils and Glasses

Encourage your family to place them in the dishwasher as soon as they're done to prevent another person from using them. Even if someone feels well, he or she could carry and spread germs for several days before getting sick.